Worm gearing adjustment



W. H. EDRIDGE AND E. E. G. BOITE. WORM GEARING ADJUSTMENT APPLICABLE 10 VARIABLE CONDENSERS FOR WIRELESS TE'LEGRAPHY AND TELEPHONY.

' APPUCATION FILED MAR. 26, 19w 1,310,329, I v Patented July 1; MS).

4 SHEETS--SHEET1.

W. H. EDRIDGE AND E, E. G. BOITE. WORM ammo ADJUSTMENT APPLICABLE 10 mums QONDENSERS FOB WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY AND TELEPHONY.

I APPLICATION FILED MAR-2.6.1919. 1,310,329. PutentedJuly 10, 1919.

' 4SHEETS-SHEEI 2-.

a 6 1 5& 4 7 g 4 W. H. EDRIDGE AND E. E. G. BOITE. WORM BEARING ADJUSTMENT APPLICABLE TO VARIABLE CONDENSEHS FOR WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY AND TELEPHONY. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 26. 1919.

4 SHEETSSHEET 3.

W. H. EDRIDGE AND E. E. G. BOITE.

WORM GEARING ADJUSTMENT APPLICABLE 10 VARIABLE comoawssas FOR wmeuzss TELEGRAPHY AND TELEPHONY.

APPLlCATlON FILED MAR. 26. I919.

Patented July 15, 1M2).

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

i variable condensers useil in rnphy and telephony receiving timers and EI FJIIBGE, GF W'QOLEVICH,

LONDON, ENGLAND, AND ERNES JI E. G.

BQITE, 0F FRANGE.

.NG ADJUSTMENT AIPLICABLE T6 V XVIRELESS TELEGBAPHY AME Application filed. March 26,

To all wiwm it may concern:

Be it" known that We, YJALTLR HENRY E1)- iziooi: and lfiiixns'i EDWARD Gimnn'r Bonn, subjects; of I the King of Great Britain and i'esisjleni' respectively, of Woolivieli, in the county oi London, Kingdom of Eiiglnndr, and .l-izivi'e, in the Republic of F "(1.1108, have invented certain new and use ful improvements in Wi min-GearingAdjusiments Applicable to Variable Condensers for Wireless 'lelegmpliy and Telephony, of which the following a specification.

This invention IGlliGS to improvements in Wei-n1 gearing; adjustments applieabie to variable condensers for wireless telegraph} and telephony The invention has for its primary object to provide apparatus embodying WOI'HL gearing :iclj isiments- Wlili improved means whereby a spindle or other member ezin be zing'ulsily adjusted and quickly to .olxtziin an approximate i'equired position of some, said spindleoi' .embei can be minnuely and. finely e' just'ecl vi'itli great precision. and the epinclle on member is automatically locked in any of'i'ts ncljusiecl positions. 1

As above mentioned the invention phiticnlei'ly lends itself to the acijusmient of Wireless telegcontinuous Wave transmit and especially to the type of condense; having stationary and movable vanes-i ilie movable vanes being inounteee on ii nmin spindle which is free to rotate through 180 deg! es to adjust the said movable vanes rele'iivelv to iiic siaitionzai' vanes. The lllYGlli-lOli. therefore, will now l)(' ilesei'ibcil as applied io the dune-ineliioncil type of condense but it inus oe llllLiOlSi'(H)(l flint l'liQ invention is applicable generally lo apparatus oihei' than condensers and in which n spindle ozo'zliei' member adapted to be zinguliiilv mljiisteil, l v \voi'm gem-in o Thus, in cziii'ying out the invention in ment of -lic i'ol'uiy main spindle of "110 con denser liv' iii-Pans of 2'; reduction \voi'm geming which. lining irreversible. lifljlis the said s' iimlle in the position to which ii li oeen :ul usl'wl. and PB'OVHlASQ in some if iscine- Specification of Letters I item,

ngulai position the said.

Patented $1113 15, 191% 1919. Serial {255,373.

spindle is being directly controlled, to oletiiin an approximate adjustment, through the handle usually P'LOVlQEzQl on such condensers, the mic irreversible reduction gearing being thrown automatically Lack into gear when ilie said handle is released to i-iiei-eby illil'blllzl ill elocli the spindle substantially as ii; the case v ii position of the spindle is controlled iifil'Ollgli the re (lnction gearing.

The invention also embodies means imiintai'ning the reduction gearing out of gear notwithstanding the ielease of the handle by the operator, and also foi iie con'trol 'of the position of the spindle, with out inei eusingvtlie length of the latter, from such zi'clistaiice vviil insure that the llELil fl of the operator will not produce an ap- PIQClRblQ variation of th capacity of the circuit to which the variable condenser connecieclk Further, the invention provides means for preventing: the over-"awning of ijlfl worm gearing when the main spindle is meeliani Cally prevented from voiniiingihiouggii more than a definite ang e and means for preventing end pin in line vvoi'm SllIldlG- of said innin spini'ile in lj: through sei l; i'in'euggli a handle fixeci in he a Figure i is; 1. so .cnzil ilQw'iliIlfill i one method of camling out theinven- 'Ciom and Fig. fl plan of one.

3 5i and ii are views siiniliil" to F l and .2 soil showing ivvo modified COiiSlZ"ilC i031S of filie apparatus.

Figs. '5' cl 8 are detail peril) sectional elevnfiiens iliuslaniiing two further mo lificziiions. r In the construction Sl'iOWZl in Figs. Tonal line main spindle I, supported by one 21' more bearings 2 eziivies a handle 3. mode preferably of insulating material, free in slide axially upon a sqimretl portion 1? of the said spindle.

A niefnl icing 'tcecli cuton ifs to the handle 3 cr 1 end in plane e,

l on embodies construe spindle by paidarelatively to the spindle. "on the ring" 41. are normally maintained 1n Y 15 is caused to bear of the said spindle 1. As the ring .4 is fixed to the handle 3 it cannot rotate upon ,The teeth mesh with the screw-threads on a worm loosely around the "spindle 1 and bearing upon the under surface of the handle '3. The spindle through 180 degrees by means of the handle 3 after having exerted slight pressure on the said handle 3 in t e direction of the bearings 2 and disengaged the teeth on the rings: from the threads on the worm spindle 5. fWhen released the handle 3 returns to its hormal position under the action of the spring 6, thus rengaging the teeth on the ring 4 with the threads on the worm spindle E. and automatically locking the spindle '1 in v the required approximate angularly 'ad-' i ust-ed position.

Y The worm spindle 5 is supported by the bearing 7, and fixed to the said spindle are two collars 8 and) to prevent end play of the same in the bearing 7 the collar 9 preferably being adjustable on the threads of the spindle. The worm spindle 5 carries an operating knob 10 which is preferably a loose fit upon the spindle and adapted to rotate the latter by friction between a spring 11, the collar 8, a washer 12 fixed to the end of the spindle, and the said operating knob 10. The worm drive, consisting of the toothed ring 4 in combination with the worm spindle 5 and thefixed bearing 7, is normally in gear and constitutes a locking device for the spindle 1 in its angularly adjusted positions. The said worm drive is, however, also employed as a means for accurately controlling and obtaining a fine adjustment of the angular position of the spindle 1 by the rotation of the knob 10. The object of the friction drive between the knob 10 and the worm spindle 5 is to pre-' vent damaging the threads and teeth of the worm gear should it be attempted to rotate the spindle 1 beyond the maximum limit by means of the said knob.

A stud 13'is fitted loosely into a recess 3 formed in the upper end of the handle 3,

projects above the same, and is fixed to a shrew-threaded spindle 14, which is screwed loosely into the upper end of the spindle 1. To the under surface of the stud 13 is fixed an inverted cupshapednietal cam member 15, the cam surface of said member being cut out of the cylindrical portion of same. in the normal position of the handle 3, and of the stud 13 with reference theretmthe teeth on the ring 4 engage with the threads on the worm spindlefi. rotating the stud 13 in one direction through aboutQO de ee with reference to the.handle 3 the pag ng surface 15 of the cam member downwardupon the end means (if a star spring 6 fitted 1 may be directly rotated.

trates the worm gearing 'grees at .knob 10 and necessary in the construction shewn in Figs.

back again. The shape of the cam surface on the member 15 is such that two stops 15? are provided and the stud 13 cannot be rotated through a greater angle than that requiredto produce the disengagement of the worm gearing above described. Fig. 1 illusdisengaged by mediuinof the stud and cam member.

I A spacing collar 17 is fitted loosely on the spindle 1 between the upper bearing 2 and. the handle 3, and the object of the said collar is to limit the displacement of the handle downward upon the spindle. The loose fitting of thecollar 17 upon the spindle 1 insures that the downward pressure applied to the handle 3 is not. communicated to the said spindle. Fig. 2 shows the disk 3' forming part of the handle 3 graduated in de- 3 and the angularly adjusted position of the spindle 1 relatively to the bearings 2 is indicated by a pointer 18 coiiperating with the graduations.

If desired, in a modification, a pointer fixed to the spindle 1 either above or below the toothed ring 4 andp'a-ssing through a slot in the disk portion 3" of the handle 3 may be employed to indicate the angular position of the spindle 1, said pointer being adapted to coiiperate with graduations on the base 19. The graduations may also be marked on a disk secured to the spindle 1 either below or albove the toothed ring 4 and independently of the handle 3 to which the said toothed ring 4 is fixed. d

In the modification illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, the main spindle 1 is supported by one or more bearings 2 and carries an axially slidable handle 3 as before. A metal disk 4 having teeth out on its outer edge is constrained to remain concentric with the main spindle 1 and in a plane at right angles to the axis of the said spindle. In this form of the apparatus, however, the teeth on the Y pendently of the disk 4. The worm spin le I 5 is sup )orted by one or more'bearin; two COllilIS 8 and 9 are secured upon said spindle to prevent endplay of the latter in thedoearings 7, and'an operating knob 10 is fixed to the spindle 5 which also carries a spring 11. A friction drive between the the worm spindle 5 being unposition of a main spindle 1 the direct rota-- '10 tion of which by means of a handle of the usual dimensionsnecessitates as great an effort as can conveniently be madeby the hand of the operator. Figs; 3 and #1 therefore include a stud 13 fitting loosely into a 15 recess 3 in the handle 3, fixed to a spindle 14 screwed loosely into theirnain spindle 1,-

and carrying a metal cam member 15, the said stud and the cam member being free to rotate through a sufiicient. angle-to cause the projecting surface of the cam tobear downward upon a screw 16 fixed radially to the handle 3; all substantially as before described in connection with Figs. 1 and The stud 13, spindle 14. earn member 15 and projecting screw 16 are in Figs. 3 and.

i, fitted to apparatus in which the rotation of the main spindle 1 requires a considerable effort in order to permit of such compression of the spring 6 as will insure that the friction between the ends of'the said spring 6 and the toothed ring 4 will cause the rotation of the said spindle through the handle 3 when the said toothed ring is rotated by means of the knob 10 fixed to the worm spindle 5. \Vhen it is required to directly rotate the main spindle 1 by means of the handle 3, fitted to slide axially on the squared portion 1 of the said spindle, the stud 13 is rotated back to such a position 40 that the projecting surface'of thecam member 15 no longer bears upon the screw 16;

i; the pressure upon the spring 6 through the I handle 3, and the pressure of the spring uponthe disk 4, be ng thereby relaxed, themain spindle 1 may be freely rotated by,

means of the handle 3 without the additional effort which would otherwisebe necessary to overcome the friction between the spring G and the disk.

A collar 17 is fixed to the main spindle 1 and supports the toothed ring 4 which is fitted loosely around a boss 17 on said collar. A pointer 18 is shown fixed to' the main spindle 1 through the collar 17 and cooperating with a scale 19 engraved in degrees on the base 19 carrying the bearings 2. Figs. 5 and 6 correspond to an application of the invention more especially adapted to the adjustment of the angular position of a main spindle the rotation of which, by means of the handle 3, requires a very slight efl'ort. The collar 17 is fixed to the base 19 concentrically to the main spindle 1 and serves not only as a support and guideto 5 the loosely mounted toothed ring 4 but also carries the bearings T of the worm sp'ndle 5. The, teeth of the toothed ring 4 are shown as being maintained in contact with the threads on the worm spindle 5 by the pressure of the spring (5. The pointer 18 is shown fixed to thebase 19 earl-vin the bean ings and cooperating with a scale engraved in degrees on a disk 3 formin part of the handle In Figs. 3 and 4 the ends i of the radial arms of the spring 6 are shown split, alter nate segments of the split ends pressing against the upper and lower inner surfaces of an annular channel r formed on the toothed disk 4. This arrangement permits of obtaining the required frictional drive between the spring 6 and the toothed disk 4 without unnecessary friction between the said disk and the collar -17, and may be advantageously employed in the form of the apparatus shown in Figs. 5 and 6 as well as inanodifications illustrated in Figs. 3 and 1- or and 6.

If desired, and as illustrated in Fig. '4', the stud'13, cam member 15 and screw 16 of Figs. 3 and =1 inay be replaced l y a cap 13 loosely mounted to rotate to a limited extent, upon the upper end of the handle 3 and having its lower edge formed with cam surfaces 15" adapted to cooperate with rollers -In either construction, when the cap is rotated in either direction, or pressed down, as

the case may be, the levers 21 are rocked on' their pivots and lift the arms of the spring 6 away from the toothed disk 4:, thus freeing the frictional drive between the handle 3 and said dlsk through-said spring and enabling the spindle 1 to be directly and freely rotated in either direction by means.

of the cap through the handle by rotating said cap. )Vhen the cap 13* is released the arms of the spring 6 return to their operative positions upon the disk. 4 and return the'cap 13 and the levers 21 to their normal positions, and the spindle 1 is automatically locked in its angularly adjusted position through the handle 3, spring 6. disk 4 and worm spindle 5. In till another construction, Fig. 8, the ban 3 may be fitted with pivoted sectors 23 forn'iing parts of-said handle and connected to the arms of the spring 6 by links 22, thearrangement being such that when the handle is grasped the spring arms are lifted and released from the toothed disk 4thus enabling the spindle 1 to be directly rotated by turning the handle, the parts automatically returning to their normal positions when the handle is released, and the spindle being automatically tion through the handle 3, spring and worm spindle 5.

If desired, the lever scribed, or them, may stud and cam mechanism illustrated in Figs. 3 and i.

In Figs. 3 to 6 the spring ranged between the toothed disk or ring '"l' and the base 19 and be secured either to the main spindle 1 or to said base in such inanner that it presses the disk or ring into contact With the disk portion 3 of the handle 3.

The handle 3, the toothed disk or ring 4, or the collar 17 may be made sufiiciently flexible and resilient to permit of dispensing with the spring 6.

What we claim is 1. In apparatus of the character scribed, a main spindle adapted to he angularly adjusted, a member connected with the main spindle to turn it and having Worm teeth, a drive spindle having av vvorni to normally engage the Worm teeth, a handle connected with the main spindle to turn it and adapted to be shifted to one direction to effect the lisengagement between the worm teeth and worth and subsequently turned to turn the main spindle, and means to hold the handle the shifted position and'permit of its turning movement.

2. In apparatus of the character dee, disk 4- inechanisins above described, a main-spindle adapted to'be angularly ad usted, a member splined upon the main spindle to move longitudinally thereof and rotate therewith and having worm teeth, a drive spindle having a Worm to normally engage the worm teeth, a handlecarried by the main spindle and adapted to be moved longitudinally thereof to shift the member for effecting a disengagement between t-he Worm teeth and Worimsaid handle being adapted to turn'the ntain spindle.

3. In apparatus of the character described, a main spindle adapted to be anguloclced in its angularly adjusted posiother mechanisms similar to be used in combination with the,

6 may be ar main spindle odeintense larly adjusted, a member splined upon the main spindle to move longitudinally thereof and rotate therewith and having Worm teeth, a drive spindle having a. Worm arranged abovethe Worm teeth and normally engag ing the same,- a handle slidable upon the main spindle and arranged above said memher to move it downwardly when the handle is depressed, said handle also serving to turn the main spindle, and a spring arranged beneath said member to move it upwardly so that said vvorn teeth en age with the worm. i t

4.111 apparatus of the character described, amain spindle adapted to be angularly adjusted, a member splined upon the to move longitudinally thereof and rotate therewith and having-worm teeth, a drive spindle having a Worm arrangedabove the Worm teeth and normally engagingthe same, a handle arranged above and connected with said member, device connected with" the main spindle and adapted to depress the handle, said device including a rotatable stud, and means to move the member upwardly. 1

5.111 apparatus of the character described, a main spindle adapted to be angularly ad usted, a member spllned upon the main spindle to move longitudinally thereof A and rotate therewith and having worm teeth, a drive spindle having a worm arrrange above the worm teeth and normally engaging the same, a handle arranged above and connected with said member, a device con neeted with the main spindle and adapted,

to depress the handle, said device including a rotatable stud pivotally connected with the main spindle, an element secured to the stud and provi led with a cam face and a pin carried by the handle to engage the can't face, and yielding means to move saithmeniber upwardly. I

In, testimony whereof We have hereunto signed our names,"

W. n. EDRIDGE. s. E. G. norrn. 

